Condenser



Feb. 26,A 1929.

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CONDENSER Filed July 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet NUv ` gwwwtoz Feb. 26, 1929.r

W. S. SHENEFIELD CONDENSER Filed July 14, 1.927 2 Sheets-Sheet view g latciited Feb. 2G, 1929.

UNiTED STATES PATENT oFFIca CONDENSER.

Application led July 14, 1927. Serial No. 205,656.

My invention relates to condensers and especially to such as are adapted ior stills in general, and peppermint stills in particular, although capable ot' other and analogous uses.

One of the important objects of the invention is to provide a condenser which may be used either as a main condenser or as an auX- iliary condenser, in a still or the like, and which will assure of the complete condensation ot steam or vapor before it reachesthe receiving vat. y

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved structure whereby the steam or vapor entering the condenser will be dispersed over a cooling surface of relatively large area as compared with the size ot' the condenser.

The invention further contemplates the provision of means for supplying a cooling fluid directly to the portion of the condenser adjacent the steam or vapor inlet to overcome the tendency of the ycondenser to heat up at this point.

A still further object of the invention is to furnish a device of this character which is simple inv construction, relatively inexpensive of manufacture and which can be conveniently installed, the nature of the device being such that it will operate eiiiciently over a long` period of time with little vor no attention.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annened to, and forming a part oi'i this specification. However, tor a better understanding oit the invention and its objects and advantages, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment. It is to be understood that the invention is capable oi' various changes and modificationswithout departing from the spirit and scope olf the subject matter as claimed.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate the same parts in all views,

Fig. 1 is a schematic view in elevation illustrating the application of my invention as a iinal condenser in a peppermint still;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the condenser;

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional Fig. 4C is a horizontal sectional view of the condenser. v

lteferring specifically to thc drawings, Fig. l illustrates the peppermint hay container A having the steam inlet pipe l at the bottom controlled by a valve 2. The container or tub A is closed by a cover A and the rsteam outlet pipe B leads from a point adjacent the y top of the tub into the usual main condenser C. The steam outlet pipe B withiny the condenser C is of serpentine form having a number of coils or convolutions as indicated at C', the pipe decreasing in diameter as usual toward its point of exit at the bottom of the chamber or condenser C. The chamber C is supplied'withV cold wat-er from storage tank D, through pipe D which lenters chamber C near the bottom. The hot'water outlet E is shown at the top of tank C, and a pump (not shown) may be used for effecting a continual circulation of cold water into the tank C.

l Inasmuch as the structure above described is old` and well known a more detailed descriptionwould be superfiuous.

Ordinarily in the use of a still as hereinabove described a considerable quantity of peppermint oil is lost, the same passing from the outlet of pipe B as steam, especially after the still has been used for a considerable period without a shut down,

The reason is that it is practically impossible to supply cold water to tank C in sui!- `ticient volume to maintain the temperature at a point that would eect a complete condensation of the steam.

I overcome this dii'liculty by employing the iinal condenser which is the subject of this invention and which comprehends a vessel 3 which is provided with conical ends and which is supported by a bracket l rising from :the bottom of a cylindrical vessel 5. The vessel 5 of my improved final condenser is adapted to receive cold water from tank D through an inlet pipe 6 which enters at the bottom and which is controlled by a gate valve 7. The warm water out-let from vessel 5 is shown at 8 as being located just below the top ofthe vessel.

The peppermint laden steam and fluid passes from the main condenser through pipe B and into the upper end of the inner conicalended vessel 3 and contacts against the conically shaped water reservoir 9, the walls of which are disposed in closely spaced parallelism with the end wall of vessel 3.

The water reservoir 9 is supplied with Water fromthe lower portion of the vessel -Cil Cil

5 through tubes 10 which open through the lower conical end of the vessel 3, being there soldered or otherwise sealed to prevent the passage of iluid around their ends, these tubes also serving to support the water reservoir 9. ln order to further supply cold water to the upper end of the water reservoir 9, l employ a water pipe il leading from the main water pipe 6 and which passes thru the walls oil the chambers 3 and 5 and up through the bottom ol the reservoir 9 to a point adjacent its conical end. The auxiliary water pipe l1 is controlled by a valve l2 as shown.

The conical water reservoir 9 is provided with two radially extending water outlet pipes 13 adjacent its apex for discharging the heated water from the water reservoir 9 into the Lipper part oi the main water vessel 5. j

From the structure described it will be manifest that the steam and fluid entering the vessel 3 will be disposed over and around the cool wall of the conically shaped water reservoir 9 and will be further cooled by contact with the tubes lO and auxiliary water pipe ll so that by the time it reaches the lower end of vessel 3, complete condensation will have been effected. rllhe conical form of the lower portion of the vessel 3 becomes important because it concentrates the fluid and steam residue, il" any there be, causing directengagement thereof with the cold water tubes l0 leading to the reservoir 9.

The auxiliary water supply pipe ll which discharges cold water directly from the inlet 6 at the apex of the conical reservoir 9, is of particular importance since it is perfectly obvious that the apex of reservoir 9 bears the brunt of whatever heat there is in the fluid received from the main condenser pipe B.

The oil passes from the auxiliary condenser through pipe l-t to a vessel l5 which has an oil outlet l5 and a water outlet l5". Vessel 5 is shown provided with a drain cock 16 as shown.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A condenser comprising a main cold water reservoir, a vessel within said rcservoir and having conically shaped ends, a fluid inlet being provided at one end and a fluid Outlet provided at the other end,` a conically shaped auxiliary water reservoir located .in the fluid inlet end of said Vessel and having its walls spaced lroiu the conical. end wall o'lf said vessel to provide a restricted passage for the fluid therebetween, tubes supportingl said conical reservoir and extending through the wall of the lower conical end ot said vessel, said tubes providing passages from the lower end of said main water reservoir through the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir for supplying cold water thereto, said auxiliary reservoir having outlet pipes extending laterally through the adjacent wall of said vessel and permitting the circulation of water into the upper end oi said main water reservoir, the latter having a cold water inlet at its bottom and a warm .xf'ater outlet at its top, and an auxiliary cold water inlet pipe leading through the intermediate wall portions o'f said main water reservoir and vessel and up through the bottom of said auxiliary reservoir, said pipe terminating adjacent the apex of said auf4 liary reservoir for subjecting the same to a direct stream of cold water to counteract the ei'i'ect of the heated fluid at this point.

2. ln a condens-er, a vessel having an inlet and an outlet for the fluid to be condensed; a cooling fluid reservoir in said vesselv and spaced from the vessel walls; cooling fluid supply pipes communicating with said reservoir and passing through the wall of said vessel; one ot said pipes discharging fluid into said reservoir immediately adjacent said fluid inlet of said vessel and the other at a point remote therefrom; and said pipes being rigidly secured to said reservoir and vessel and supporting the reservoir.

3. In a condenser, a. vessel having an inlet and an outlet for the fluid to be condensed, a cooling fluid reservoir in said vessel and spaced from .the vessel walls; cooling iluid supply pipes communicating with said reservoir and passing through the wall of said vessel; one of said pipes discharging fluid into said reservoir immediately adjacent said fluid inlet of said vessel and the other at a point remote therefrom, said pipes being rig-v idly s-ecured to said reservoir andv vessel and supporting the reservoir, and liuid outlet pipes leading from said reservoir through the wall ot' said vessel adjacent the vessel inlet.

4. A condenser comprising a main cooling fluid reservoir, a vessel within said reservoir and having an inlet and outlet, the vessel being gradually constrioted cross sectionally in the direction of said outlet and substantially merging therewith; an auxiliary cooling' Al'luid reservoir within said vessel adjacent its inlet andvspaced from its walls, and supply pipes communicating with said auxiliary reservoir and passing through the restricted vessel walls adjacent the vessel outlet whereby the fluid to be condensed will be forced to contact with said pipes adjacent the vessel outlet.

A condenser conijnising a main cooling iluid reservoir, a vessel within said reservoir and having an inlet and outlet the vessel be ing gradually constricted adjacent said outlet; an a xiliary cooling `luid reservoir within said vessel adjacent its inlet and spaced. from its walls; supply pipes communieating` with said auxiliary reservo-ir and passing through the restrict-ed vessel walls adjacent the vessel outlet whereby the fluid to be condensed will be forced'V to contact with said pipes adjacent the vessel out-let, and auxiliary lll) Voir, the c'lieoharg'e end oi said pipe being disposed adjacent the Vessel inlet..

7. In a condenser7 a vessel having an inlet and an outlet for the fluid to be condensed; a Cooling fluid reservoir in said Vessel at the inlet end thereof, and a cooling Water supply pipe extending from a source of supply thru the Wall of' said vesSei and into said reservoir,

the discharge end of said pipe being disposed adjacent the Vessel inlet and discharging toward the said iniet.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER S. SHENEFIELD. 

